Man texted ex - then shot himself in head

A MAN took a licensed 12-bore shotgun from a cabinet in his father’s home and said he planned to go hunting - then shot himself through the head after his relationship failed.

Neil Wilkinson, 42, committed suicide as he faced up to the end of a seven-year relationship with Vicky Hewitt, an inquest heard. He also set fire to his car and wrecked his house with a sledgehammer before taking his own life.

Ms Hewitt told police her ex had become “controlling and jealous” before she ended their relationship last March.

The couple got back together but the reconciliation failed and, while attending a friend’s funeral in October, Mr Wilkinson said he wished it was him being buried.

He told her he wanted to make things right between them in November - but she made it clear it was over.

He told her he felt like killing himself but she told him not to “do anything stupid”.

He then texted her: “Thanks for a rotten seven years. You have got to live with this. I have taken the easy way out, sorry.”

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Wilkinson, of Chesterfield, died of a shotgun wound to the head - and had also taken a significant amount of cocaine.

Recording a verdict that Mr Wilkinson took his own life, Deputy North Derbyshire Coroner Nigel Anderson said it was possible the cocaine had “warped” his thinking.